Antirrhinum plant named ‘Balumorew’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Antirrhinum plant named ‘Balumorew’, characterized by its orange and yellow bicolor flowers, mounded and trailing habit, and dark green leaves.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Anthirrhinum majus.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Balumorew’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct Antirrhinum plant, botanically known as Antirrhinum majus, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balumorew’. The new cultivar was developed by the inventor through a controlled breeding program during 1998 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Antirrhinum cultivars with mounded trailing habit, continuous flowering, excellent basal branching and small, dark green leaves.

The female (seed) parent of ‘Balumorew’ was ‘Lampion Yellow’ (cultivar name ‘Layel’; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,985) which exhibits a semi-trailing habit, yellow flowers and dark green foliage. The male (pollen) parent of ‘Balumorew’ was the proprietary Antirrhinum breeding selection designated BFP-59, which exhibits a trailing habit, small peach flowers and medium green foliage. The new cultivar was discovered as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the above stated cross in December 1999 and was initially designated 1958-1.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar has been carried out at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. by terminal tip cuttings and has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:

(a) Exhibits orange and yellow bicolor flowers;

(b) Forms dark green foliage;

(c) Exhibits a good basal branching character; and

(c) Exhibits a trailing growth habit.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be compared to ‘Balumyell’ (co-pending U.S. Plant Patent application Ser. No. 09/808,089). In side-by-side comparisons, ‘Balumorew’ differs in flower color from ‘Balumyell’. When compared to its female parent, ‘Lampion Yellow’, ‘Balumorew’ differs in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants were grown for 12 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar ‘Balumorew’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. The color values were determined on Apr. 18, 2001. The readings were taken between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. under natural daylight conditions. The plants were produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and were grown in a double polycarbonate covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown utilizing a soilless growth medium with temperatures of approximately 65° to 75° F. (18° to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 50° to 55° F. (10° to 14° C.) during the night and light levels of 5,000 to 6,000 footcandles being maintained. Plants used for the following descriptions and measurements were grown in 10cm pots for 12 weeks from rooted cuttings.

Classification:

Botanical.—Antirrhinum majus cultivar ‘Balumorew’.

Parentage:

Female parent.—‘Lampion Yellow’ (‘Layel’).

Male parent.—Proprietary Antirrhinum selection designated BFP-59.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal tip.

Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.

Time to develop roots.—Approximately 14 to 21 days.

Root description.—Fibrous, branching.

Plant description:

Habit of growth.—Vigorous with good basal branching. Pinching improves basal branching. A mature plant, 12 weeks after the planting of a rooted cutting, measures approximately 11 cm in height and approximately 44 cm in diameter with an average of 7 branches.

Form.—Mounded and trailing.

Stem.—Approximately 20.6 cm in length, 2 mm in diameter, densely pubescent and 146B. Internode length is approximately 2.2 cm.

Foliage.—Leaves are non-fragrant, single, opposite and at an acute angle to the stem. Leaves are ovate with entire margin, broadly acute apex and attenuate base. Upper and lower surfaces are glabrous. Leaf length is approximately 3.1 cm and width is approximately 1.9 cm. Upper surface of mature foliage is 137A, lower surface of mature foliage is 1 37D. Both upper and lower surfaces have pinnate venation closest to 143B. Petiole length is approximately 7 mm, diameter is approximately 1 mm, surface is glabrous and color is 146C.

Flowering description:

Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.

Natural flowering season.—Year round in greenhouse environment and spring through autumn in outdoor garden.

Lastingness of the bloom (on the plant).—Approximately ten days.

Flower arrangement.—Terminal racemes.

Peduncle.—Strong, glandular, at an acute angle to the stem, approximately 7 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter. Peduncle color is 146B.

Flower bud.—Obovate, approximately 2.3 cm in length and 1.1 cm in diameter. Bud color is 180A. Texture is villous.

Flower description.—Flowers are bilabiate. The upper lip has two obovate lobes with rounded tips, entire margins, and attenuate bases. The lower lip has three obovate lobes with rounded tips, entire margins, and attenuate bases. Flower length is approximately 3.3 cm and width is approximately 2.3 cm. Flower color at first opening: 31A. Color of fully open flowers: Upper surface of upper lip is 31B with base of 54C. The upper surface of center lobe of the lower lip is 9A. The upper surface of lateral lobes of the lower lip are 26A. The undersurface of the upper and lower lips is between 181C and 181D. The upper surface of the palate is 17C. The undersurface of the palate is 180D. Inside of throat is 155D with hairs of 155D. Outside of throat is lighter than 59D.

Sepals.—Five, approximately 8 mm in length and 3 mm in width with acute apex and entire margin. Both upper and lower surfaces are densely pubescent and 146B.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: There are 4 stamens-2 are approximately 2.2 cm in length and 2 are approximately 1.1 cm in length. Anthers are 2 mm in length and 15C in color. Pollen is abundant and color is 15B. Gynoecium: One pistil, 1.8 cm in length. Stigma is 2 mm in length and color is 150A. Style length is 1.3 cm and color is slightly lighter than 64D. Ovary length is 3 mm, texture is densely pubescent and color is 150C.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens has not been observed. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Antirrhinum plant named ‘Balumorew’ substantially as herein shown and described, which: (a) Exhibits orange and yellow bicolor flowers; (b) Dark green foliage; (c) A good basal branching character; and (d) A mounded and trailing growth habit. 